Compactors and the like



Sept. 26, 1961 A. H. CROUCHER COMPACTORS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 4, 1957 ANTa/Yr H (Faun/ 5a Wrne z Sept. 26, 1961 A. H.CROUCHER 'COMPACTORS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 4, 1957ArrTmvy H. Rood/Er? War/7y Sept. 26, 1961 A. H. CROUCHER COMPACTORS ANDTHE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 4, 1957 A y H (Rot/CHER rn x UnitedStates Patent 3,001,458 COMPACTORS AND THE LIKE Antony Harry 'Croucher,Esher, England, assignor to Compactors Engineering Limited, London,England Filed Nov. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 694,236 Claims priority,application Great Britain Nov. 9, 1956 1 Claim. (CI. 94-48) Thisinvention relates -to compactors for compacting soil and various formsof aggregate.

One form of compactor described in our British Patent No. 730,592comprises compacting means, a framework rigidly secured thereto, a primemover spring-mounted on the frame for movement in the up and downdirection in relation to the framework and a paired eccentric weightarrangement mounted in the framework and driven from the prime mover toprovide a reciprocating force.

-In the compactor claimed in our previous patent the paired eccentricWeight arrangement was pivotally mounted in the frame for rigidlysecuring at any one of a plurality of positions.

By this means the direction of the reciprocating force could be inclinedto the vertical to make the compactor self-propelling in eitherdirection.

The adjustment, however, could only be effected when the compactor wasnot in use.

The present invention consists of a compactor of the form described,comprising means for continuous adjustment of the direction of thereciprocating force while the compactor is in use.

Thus the compactor can be held stationary, moved forward or movedbackwards while it is in use.

This considerably facilitates the handling of the compactor during adiflicult compacting operation, for example, in a confined space.

Conveniently, the arrangement for continuously adjusting the directionof the reciprocating force comprises a pivoted handle member geared tothe paired eccentric weight arrangement over a step-up gear arrangementwhereby a relatively small angular movement of the handle member will besufiicient to control the compactor over the desired range of maximumforward to maximum backward rate of movement.

The invention will be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a compactor according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation in partial section on the line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a reverse side detail showing the weight box drive.

FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 showing the weight boxcontrol drive.

In the drawings the prime mover 1 mounted on the base plate 2 drives apulley 3. Driving belt 4 extends over pulley 3, jockey pulley 5 andpulley 6 whereby pulley 6 is driven. Pulley 6, which is mounted on shaft7 over ball bearings 7a carries a gear wheel 6a which drives a gearwheel 8a.

Gear wheel 8a is coupled to and drives eccentric, D-shaped weight 8which is mounted at its ends in roller bearings 8c.

Eccentric weight 8 carries a further gear wheel 8b which drives acorresponding gear wheel 9a on eccentric D-shaped weight 9 mounted onroller bearings 9b with its axis parallel to weight 8.

Weight 9 is thus driven in the reverse direction to weight 8.

The weights 8 and 9 are thus rotatably mounted in a box 10 to form anarrangement which is supported so that it can be rotated bodily.

"ice

Thus right-hand end plate of box 10 carries a closing plate 10b whichcarries a large sprocket 10a fixedly secured thereto.

" Fitting around part of the circumference of this sprocket is a rollerchain 11.

' Another part of the roller chain 11 which is a continuous loop is heldon a fixed outer arc concentric with the sprocket by means of anabutment member 12.

At the centre of this outer arc the chain 11 is secured to a radius arm13a fixed to a handle member 13 which is mounted to pivot on an axiscommon with the pivotal axis of the box 10. The handle is supported forrotation in side plates 14 the right-hand one of which in FIGURE 2carries the arched member 12 bolted thereto and also carries a pair ofsprockets 15 bolted thereto which engage in the ends of the loop ofchain 11. The left-hand plate 14 carries the shaft 7.

Side plates 14 are welded to a compactor member 16 and are separated atthe ends by plates 17 and 18. Side plates 14 also have apertures 14a atthe ends through which carrying bars of a pick-up trolley may beinserted.

The remainder of the construction is substantially the same as in ourBritish patent mentioned. Thus plate 2 is suspended by the springassemblies 19 on the frame 20 and frame 20 is supported on the compactormember 16.

-In operation the paired eccentric weight arrangement provides areciprocating force in a plane. If the plane is vertical the compactorstands still; if the plane is inclined to the vertical while thedownward force effects compacting the upward and sideways force willtend to move the compactor a short step sideways by lifting it anddepositing it to one side of its previous position at eachreciprocation. Thus the compactor is moved forward or backward dependingon which side of the vertical the plane of reciprocation is inclined.

The box 10 is supported for rotation on arcuate supports 21 on thecompactor member 16.

If the handle 13 is rotated through, say, 45 then the fixed point of thechain 11 will have moved round on the outer arc of member 12 which has aradius about 2 /2 times that of the sprocket 10a. Thhe sprocket 10a willtherefore have moved round by about 2 /2 times 45 say 110" rotatingplate 10b to which it is attached and hence the box 10.

Thus for a movement of the direction of the reciprocating force producedby the counter rotating weights 8 and 9 from, say, 45 to the vertical inthe forward direction to 45 to the vertical in the reverse direction, amovement of only about 36 of the handle 13 is required.

If the handle is swung over to the other side, i.e. a movement of under90 in the direction of reciprocation is turned through 180 so that theoperation of the compactor can be controlled with the handle on eitherside.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

A compactor comprising compactor means, a framework rigidly securedthereto, a prime mover spring mounted on the framework for movement inthe up and down direction in relation to the framework, a casing vrotatably mounted in the framework, a pair of eccentric weights mountedon parallel axes in the casing and coupled to be rotated by the primemover to provide a reciprocating force and means mounted in theframework for rotating the casing to change the direction of thereciprocating force, said means comprising a reversible guiding andcontrol handle for the compactor pivotally secured to the framework forrotation about an axis transversely thereof, a fixed sprocket mounted onone end of the casing, an arc member of larger radius than the fixedsprocket mounted on the framework concentric with the handle, a pair ofrotatable sprockets mounted on the framework at the. ends of the arcmember, a roller chain passing around the are member, the rotatablesprockets and the fixed sprocket and a member mounted to rotate withtthe handle and fixedto the chain wherevit passes over the-arc memberwhereby-a small,-. angular movementv of the handle in one direction ofrotation from a position on -oneflsid'e of the eornpaetorz efieetsalarge angular displacement of the direction of thereciproeatingforce-fromf the:- vertical: in-v one direction and-.asmallangularimovement oh the: handle in the other direction of rotation- 0efiects a largedisplacement of the direction of the reciprocatingforce,-,,fmrngthe-verticabin the otherv direction andsdisplacementofathehandle from oneside of the/com- 4V pactor to the other turns thedirection of the reciprocating force through 180 whereby the compactormay be controlled for self-propelled forward and backward movement withthe handle on either side.

References-ited ink the-fife of: this? patent UNITED S FA FES BATENISUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIQN Patent No.3,001,458 September 26, 1961 Anftony Harry Croucher It is herebycertified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiringcorrection and that the said Letters Patent should read as correctedbelow.

In the grant, lines 1, 2 and 3, for "Antony Harry Croncher, 0i Esher,England, assignor to Compactors Engineering Limited, of London,England," read Antony Harry Croucher, of Esher, England, assignor ofone-half to Compactors Engineering Limited, of London, England line 12for Compactors Engineering Limited, its successors" read Antony HarryCroncher, his heirs or assigns, and Compactors Engineering Limited, itssuccessors in the heading to the printed specification, Iines 3 and A,for "Antony Harry Croucher, Esner, England, assignor to CompactorsEngineering Limited, London, England read Antony Harry Croucher, Esher,England, assignor of onehalf to Compactors Engineering Limited, London,England Signed and sealed this 10th day of April 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W SWIDER DAVID A D I Attesting Officer Commissioner of Pete

